Looking for a Gold Star doctor

Q: What does "a board-certified doctor" really mean, and where can I check to see if my surgeon is "board-certified"?

Q: What does "a board-certified doctor" really mean, and where can I check to see if my surgeon is "board-certified"?

A: At Pocono Medical Center, all of the physicians are board-certified or board-eligible. This means that each physician is regularly maintaining his or her professional excellence within their specialty.

About 15 years ago, PMC medical staff voted to make board certification a standard to be on the medical staff. Physicians have to be board-certified within five years of coming on staff or they lose their privileges and membership.

Medical specialty certification in the United States is a voluntary process. While medical licensure sets the minimum competency requirements to diagnose and treat patients, it is not specialty-specific. Certification by an American Board of Medical Specialties member board involves a rigorous process of testing and peer evaluation that is designed and administered by specialists in the specific area of medicine.

The American Board of Medical Specialties was founded in 1933. In internal medicine, board certification requires the highest demonstrated standards that they have the clinical judgment, skills and attitudes essential for the delivery of excellent patient care. A physician's status can be checked by contacting the American Board of Medical Specialties or online at www.abms.org.

Along with board certification, the Gold Star also demonstrates a physician's exceptional expertise in a particular specialty and/or subspecialty of medical practice. The Gold Star signals a board-certified physician's commitment and expertise in consistently achieving superior clinical outcomes in a responsive, patient-focused setting. It is awarded to doctors who keep up to date on their board certification with the Maintenance of Certification. Patients, physicians, healthcare providers, insurers and quality organizations look for the Gold Star as the best measure of a physician's knowledge, experience and skills to provide quality health care.